Christian | Wife + Mum | Muser | Grace-Lover
Whether you’re new to faith, have been a Christian for a long time, or are still on the fence, I’d love to connect with you & hear a little of your journey. Drop me a message and follow me in all the usual places!
“We are wounded in community and we are healed in community. No way around it. Healing might not come from the community where the wounding took place, but community is needed for healing nonetheless.” | Rich Villodas A Quick Recap About Spiritual Abuse In my last article, I talked a
The Spark That Lit The Flame One of the contentious sparks that finally lit the flame we now know as the Reformation was the idea that the common person didn’t need priests to mediate between them and God. At the time, the Church (the catholic Church — still the only
A Post-Truth Truth (If There Even Is One) In a post-truth world, what isn’t up for debate? We’ve inherited a culture shaped by the catchcry “you do you” – where truth is subjective, identity is fluid, and even morality is open to reinterpretation. Right and wrong have become personal preferences.
The entire Christian faith rests on this foundation—first and foremost, the resurrection of Jesus himself, and then the promised resurrection of those who belong to him. Paul calls Jesus “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20), meaning his resurrection is the beginning and guarantee of what
I was born and raised in New Zealand, the land of the long white cloud and a ratio of nearly six sheep for every one person. I often remember as a child watching the sun in summer sink below the horizon late at night, and, in winter, layering up as
“And now, what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptised, and wash your sins away, calling on his name.” – Acts 22 Before Jesus came preaching ‘the good news’ and proclaiming that the kingdom was near, the gospels…
The Troubling Texts There is a great deal of evidence of women’s participation in the early church and the role they played in early Christianity. Certainly, scripture and history itself show that women actively participated in the life of the early church in all areas, including leading, teaching, disciplining, praying,
Maybe you’ve been thinking you want to follow Jesus and become a Christian, but just aren’t sure how to take that step. You think you might know what it means to follow Jesus, but it’d be good to get some clarity and direction – what’s next? Or maybe you’ve never
Truth #1: ‘before’ “In the beginning, the earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters.“ In the beginning, there was nothing. A vast, endless emptiness. Deep, restless waters, devoid of life, and overshadowed by a darkness as complete and as final as death itself. It is over this dim,
Christmas is a unique time of year. Traditionally, it’s seen as a season of joy, hope, celebration, and family—a chance for many to unwind and find rest as the year draws to a close. Yet, for others, the story is different. Christmas can be a lonely and isolating season, marked
“You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honour.” | James 3:18, MSG Loving the church can be hard.. Frankly, at times, she
Inarguably, it’s the end of any story that’s the most important part. While the beginning of a tale gives context and setting, and the middle gives the story its shape and drama, it’s the ending that provides meaning and gives resolution to the narrative. It’s the ending that makes sense
There was a time, not so long ago, when my world was very dark. Have you ever stood outside, on a moonless night, with the thick, velvety air pressed all around you and the inky black sky above, and realised that you could see precisely nothing? That’s the kind of
If you’re an orthodox Christian, already familiar with the doctrine of the Trinity, you might like to head somewhere else right now. This article will probably be, as they say, preaching to the converted. But if that’s not you, and the idea of the Trinity is new, challenging, confronting, downright
Every time Paul talks about the husband being the head, it seems to me the point is not hierarchy but unity.
There is a great deal of evidence of women’s participation in the early church and the role they played in early Christianity.
New Testament holiness is a joyous privilege, not a heavy burden and duty.
There are many crossings a human will make in a lifetime. Our introduction to life is just the first.
In the beginning, the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God.
Right from the beginning the church was flawed, as Jesus always knew she would be, and she has been flawed ever since; a living, breathing contradiction.
Derived from the Latin word fidēlis, fidelity is the quality of being faithful, loyal, accurate, or true. And it’s a quality essential to all authentic, interpersonal relationships.
The goal of being more like God doesn’t come naturally or happen randomly, it requires purposeful choice in a specific direction.
(Not a reader? Take a listen instead ⇓) I recently wrote an article which I called ‘Beneath The Skin‘; a critique of sorts of modern Christianity and the Western church. The article focused primarily on the collective Christian identity; The Church, not on any one particular denomination or way of
(Not a reader? Take a listen instead ⇓) Glory, All-In-All I think our view or perspective of God and His intentions may have been shaped by many things, but the Bible seems to set the narrative straight pretty much right away, declaring His intent and purpose from the beginning.
Are you a Christian teen struggling with or feeling confused by LGBTQ+ and gender identity issues? Then this is a conversation we need to have… First of all, know this. You are loved. The God of all the Universe, the One in whose image you’re made loves you. He knows
The world is not the same place it once was. Certainty has given way to subjective reality. Truth can no longer be pinned down. Common sense doesn’t seem quite so common after all. At times, it feels like the whole world has gone mad. And perhaps we have… One of
(Not a reader? Take a listen instead ⇓) The sovereignty and rule of God has always existed and will always exist (Psalm 47:7, 1 Chronicles 29:11, Exodus 15:18, Psalm 103:19). He is Almighty God, maker of the earth, sovereign over all, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He alone claims the
God is all about new beginnings. We see the story of humanity starting out in Genesis with a new beginning; light and order being formed out of darkness and chaos. And we see this theme of light and order echoed in the new beginning that Christians find in Jesus. In
“If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you” | Romans 8:11, ESV “…This is my…
“Though outwardly we are wasting away, inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” | 2 Corinthians 4:16, NIV There can be a tendency to reduce the work of the gospel to simply to a culture of ‘making us nice’. That is to say, that being a Christian equates to
This article is dedicated to two good men in my life, my father, Ken, and my husband, Luke. My father has always supported me, encouraged me, believed in me, loved me, and has never made me feel lesser. I wish there were more fathers like him. My husband’s love and
(Not a reader? Take a listen instead ⇓) Let me tell you a tale. It starts in a garden, long, long ago. And what a garden it was – literally, a paradise on earth. A place of grandeur and beauty, filled with trees of every description and with leaves in
It seems to me that it has become increasingly difficult to speak into many issues or situations that the church faces today; not because the Bible is silent, not because the church doesn’t have or hasn’t held a historical position on a matter, and not because we, as Christians, don’t
I really love talking about church. Not, as in, my church or your church. Not, as in, what flavour of church, in a denominational sort of way. And not, as in, which kind of church; mega church, home church, missional church, or cell-group church (and, oh boy, I wish whoever had
The Weft And Warp Of Scripture The word of God is like a vast tapestry, its main theme interwoven with many sub-plots and side stories that run like golden threads through an intricate design. Each of these threads complements the complete telling of God’s story and narrates again and again
There is no standard scholarly agreement on what exactly is meant by the word religion, so defining religion (from the Latin religiō) can be a bit tricky. In fact, prior to the 16th and 17th centuries, the concept of religion, as a distinct set of beliefs or doctrines, didn’t really exist.
“He that cannot forgive others, breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass.” | George Herbert They say, ‘write about what you know’. Well, here’s what I know: forgiveness is hard. Like, really hard. Forgiveness coexists in the same universe as injustice, loss, and the pain of deep physical,
(Not a reader? Take a listen instead ⇓) “By the 14th century, the Norman invasion of Ireland was struggling. Too many Normans had “gone native”, assimilated into Irish life. The remaining settlers had retreated to just four eastern counties: Louth, Meath, Dublin, and Kildare. These four “obedient shires” were the
(Not a reader? Take a listen instead ⇓) I don’t know about you but sometimes I feel bad for not knowing then what I know now. Bad, as in, I wish I’d known better, I wish I had known more, I wish I had known sooner or responded better
(Not a reader? Take a listen instead ⇓) I want to talk about something that’s been on my mind for a while. Some time ago, I watched a commentary by a ‘Christian pastor’ that totally shocked me. In fact, I haven’t really stopped thinking about it since. I found it
(Not a reader? Take a listen instead ⇓) “God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that
(Not a reader? Take a listen instead ⇓) Acceptance By Grace Through Faith Alone The simple truth that we find acceptance with God by grace through faith alone is the Bible’s most beautiful theme. Grace began long ago when God set in motion the means for humanity to find their
(Not a reader? Take a listen instead ⇓) Leaving is never because of just one thing. Not really. It’s the result of a thousand, inconsequential one things that all converge in a single moment of sudden, irreconcilable difference. For me, the eventual leaving of the religious community I grew up
(Not a reader? Take a listen instead ⇓) “Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Emmanuel” (which means, “God with us”)” | Matthew 1:23, BRB Scripture tells of a crowded family home in a bustling ancestral town,
(Not a reader? Take a listen instead ⇓) Come walk with Me. Imagine we are once again in Eden, walking together in the cool shade of the trees. Listen to the sound of the great river, flowing through My garden paradise. Hear the rush of its distributaries, flowing north, east,
(Not a reader? Take a listen instead ⇓) I like the Apostle Paul. I like his ability to ‘call a spade a spade’, the unrelenting pursuit of his faith, and his bold assertion to “preach nothing but the cross of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:2). No doubt he ruffled more than
(Not a reader? Take a listen instead ⇓) The appearance of Jesus on the Jewish scene was a dramatic collision between grace and spiritual performance. Jesus came preaching repentance and forgiveness for all people; not on the basis of their social status, their ethnicity, or their gender, but on the
Before beginning, I would like to acknowledge that discussing this particular topic may appear to be controversial and that you, the reader, may not share the views I express. This article is not intended to be offensive or divisive in nature, but rather to open a channel of respectful conversation
(Not a reader? Take a listen instead ⇓) Christianity in the first century was a spiritual explosion, fueled by the reality of the resurrection of Jesus and the presence of the Holy Spirit. Unlike the Jewish community, who lived and worshipped largely by themselves, Christians were active evangelists, eager
“If I find in myself desires nothing in this world will satisfy. I can only conclude that I was not made for here.” | C S Lewis Searching For Identity I want to confess, at the outset, that as I was attempting to put down some of the thoughts I
(Not a reader? Take a listen instead ⇓) There’s a troubling trend arising in our postmodern age, an era that has also given rise to ‘post-truth’. New information platforms, social upheaval and the overabundance of global communication networks are giving this idea traction and we’re seeing it take root and
“Injustice: unfairness, unjust act, Unfair: not equitable or honest, not impartial or according to rules, society: organised and interdependent community, system and organisation of this” – The Australian Oxford Dictionary, Third Edition The issue of social injustice* has always been one that is close to my heart. It’s something that
(Not a reader? Take a listen instead ⇓) What’s beneath the skin of our collective Christian identity? Has Christianity lost touch with its original radical and beating heart? Are we so enamored with the power and prestige of this present world that we have forgotten our own history? Are we,
David, the shepherd boy-turned-king and famous author of the Psalms, is perhaps one of the most complex characters in the Bible. At times, he displays examples of great faith, leadership and spirituality. Yet, these admirable qualities are often starkly contrasted against the deplorable choices and wicked actions for which he
(Not a reader? Take a listen instead ⇓) Jesus looked around the table at the closest of his disciples gathered with him, their faces reflected in the warmth of the candlelight. It was early spring, and the nights were still cool; the disciple whom he loved leaned in a little
(Not a reader? Take a listen instead ⇓) “You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colours in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think
(Not a reader? Take a listen instead ⇓) “He has told you, O human, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you, but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” | Micah 6:8 NAS 1977 Knowing And Being Known At
“Walking, stumbling, on these shadow feet; toward home, a land that I’ve never seen. I am changing: less and less asleep, made of different stuff than when I began and I have sensed it all along, fast approaching is the day.” | Brooke Fraser These lyrics are from a song
The last six months have been an unsettling and disruptive time for millions of people around the globe. The impact of COVID-19 on our ordinary routines and daily habits has been, in many cases, bewildering. The ways in which we would usually connect have had to adapt to these new
(Not a reader? Take a listen instead ⇓) This article is dedicated to the memory of William Tyndale (c 1490-1536), an active and passionate Christian writer and translator, whose historical influence on the translation of the Bible into English cannot be overstated. Tyndale was convinced that the Bible alone should
Deciding to become a Christian has its origins in believing the things about Jesus, certainly, in an intellectual sense; who he is and what he came for – but there’s more to it than that. We are also choosing to surrender to his guidance and leadership in our life as
“Blessed are the peacemakers for they will inherit the earth.” | Matthew 5:9 (ESV) The Spiritual Warrior In Ephesians 6, the Apostle Paul gives a striking description of a person known as the spiritual warrior, a follower of Jesus who has been powerfully equipped for warfare by the armour of
How we, as Christians, respond in times of crisis is not just vitally important for our own faith and for our witness of the gospel, it’s important for the wellbeing of those around us, who may be struggling with doubts and fears in what is a very distressing and anxious
“The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the
When considering the ideas and thoughts surrounding Church burnout, it became apparent that there is another serious issue facing many Christians today – in both their personal and church lives. The issue is a lack of spiritual and emotional maturity, leading to the cultivation of a ‘false self’ and a
We’re called to a radical life. This is a life in which we’re called to follow someone we’ve never seen. We’ve heard about him but we’ve never seen him with our own eyes. We’ve ‘believed the report’, the good message about who Jesus is and why he came, and our
“It’s impossible to be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature.” | Peter Scazzero, Emotional Healthy Spirituality Emotions Make Us Human Do you have emotionally healthy spirituality? Are you emotionally mature? Or are you, perhaps, deeply uncomfortable being intimate with your emotions? Did you realise that emotional maturity and spiritual health
The final pages of the Old Testament come to a close with the prophetic words of Malachi, written around 460-430 BC. We find the people of Israel have returned from nearly 130 years of exile and are back in the land of their ancestors. Yet the nation is vastly diminished.
The word disciple occurs frequently throughout the Bible and ‘discipleship’ is something that the Bible references often. But what does the word disciple actually mean? And what does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus? What Is A Disciple? Our English language Bibles were translated from manuscripts written primarily
(Not a reader? Take a listen instead ⇓) It seems hard to believe that people who have answered Jesus’ call to a life of freedom could so easily lose the sense of joy and relief they first felt. It’s difficult to understand why Christians who have been made free and
Despite Christianity still being Australia’s largest religion (61.1% compared with 7.3% of all other religions combined), the proportion of Australians identifying as Christian has been steadily declining over the past century. Compared to 1911, when 96% of people identified as Christian, the 2001 census recorded the figure of 68% and
One of the most startling pieces of information that we are given in relation to Jesus is the fact that he was made like us. Jesus’ redemptive work on behalf of humanity was deeply connected to his own humanity. Although he was born “the Son of God“, and radiant with His
Imagine a man lost the middle of the Atlantic ocean. He doesn’t remember how he got there or where he’s going, all he knows is this endless swimming in circles. No ships in sight, he’s been treading water for hours and now he’s beginning to tire. There’s a very real
The subject of God’s grace permeates every aspect of the Gospel, giving it weight and power. The saving acts of God, due to the work of Jesus on the cross and Jesus’ resurrection from the dead bring reconciliation (“atonement”) between people and God. This is why the Gospel is described as
That Jesus existed, there is no doubt. There is a great deal of written historical evidence, both from Christian and non-Christian writers, supporting the fact that Jesus was a genuine historical figure, living at the beginning of the first century AD. When applying the standard criteria of historical investigation, virtually
One of my favourite movies is Ever After with Drew Barrymore and Anjelica Huston. It has all the right ingredients for a great story – humour, romance, drama and a feel-good ending. When I think of this movie, I have a few favourite scenes that top my list, but the
Religion is defined as “a cultural system of designated behaviours and practices, world views, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or organisations, that relates humanity to supernatural, transcendental, or spiritual elements.“ Yet, there is no actual consensus among scholars as to what precisely constitutes a religion. Nearly 85% of the world’s population
Resilience can sometimes be mistaken for indifference, unaccountability or emotional disconnection but in reality, resilience is the complete opposite of these things. It is the ability to truly face reality, to be responsible for our actions and to be emotionally vulnerable, if necessary. It is the inner strength that enables
When we think of the gospel, we can tend to think of it in only ‘New Testament’ terms. We might be of the impression that the gospel was something that came about around the time of Jesus and subsequently spread throughout the world by his followers. While this is somewhat
(Not a reader? Take a listen instead ⇓) Burnout is a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion. It occurs when you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands, whether real or perceived. Eventually, you find you literally have nothing left to give, either emotionally or physically. This
(Not a reader? Take a listen instead ⇓) I heard a sermon recently about the life of Abraham and it got me thinking a lot about the man, his life and the choices that he made. There are very good reasons why he’s described in the Bible as “the
